Trap for small animals

ABSTRACT

A trap for small rodents and the like comprising a vessel having an open upper end and a removable cover assembly for the upper end of the vessel. The vessel is adapted to be located in the ground with its open upper end extending above ground level by an amount sufficient to receive the cover assembly. At least one opening is provided in the cover assembly. A support is attached to the cover assembly and extends vertically downwardly and axially of the vessel. A universally tiltable platform is mounted on the lower end of the support. The vessel may be about one-quarter filled with water.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part application of copending application Ser.No. 6/108,718, filed Dec. 31, 1979 now abandoned, in the name of thesame inventor and entitled TRAP FOR SMALL ANIMALS.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a trap for small animals, and more particularlyto such a trap utilizing a universally tiltable support platform and awater bath.

BACKGROUND ART

Prior art workers have devised many types of small animal trapsinvolving a water bath in association with some form of balance meanswhich, upon becoming unbalanced by the weight of the animal, will dumpthe animal into the water bath. U.S. Pat. No. 124,838 teaches an opentop vessel partially filled with water. The open top of the vessel isspanned by a bridge, the central portion of which constitutes abait-containing tilting table. As a small animal crosses the bridge andsteps upon the tilting table, he is caused to fall into the water bath.U.S. Pat. No. 141,346 illustrates a somewhat more complex structurecomprising a center chamber partially filled with water. A baitcontainer is mounted above the water bath and a series of radiallyoriented passages lead toward the bait container. The bottom surface ofeach passage comprises a tiltable trap door which will shift frombeneath the animal as he approaches the bait container, causing theanimal to fall into the water bath. Means are provided to enable thetrap doors to be delicately balanced so that even an insect will tripthem.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,635,224 teaches a drum-like vessel, the lower portion ofwhich is filled with water. A pair of diametrically opposed openins isformed in the side wall of the drum above the water bath. A tubularconduit or passage is pivotally mounted within the drum with its endscommunicating with the openings in the drum side wall. Means areprovided to support bait within and centrally of the tubular passage. Asan animal passes through one of the side wall openings and enters thetubular passage, his weight will cause the tubular passage to pivot withthe result that the animal will fall into the water bath.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,490,540 illustrates a small animal trap comprising achamber surmounted by a pivoted and balanced tubular member. A smallanimal is enticed into the tubular member through the use of bait. Thetubular member will become unbalanced by virtue of the animal's weight,discharging the animal into the chamber. The tubular member willthereafter return to its normal horizontal position trapping the animalwithin the chamber. In a second embodiment, the chamber, itself, may bemounted over a water bath to drown the animal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,923describes an automatic mouse trap device comprising a drowningreceptacle having a cover. The cover supports a horizontal runway tubewhich is tiltable through an elongated slot in the receptacle cover. Arodent passing through the runway tube will cause the tube to becomeunbalanced and tilt downwardly, discharging the animal into the drowningreceptacle. The runway tube will thereafter return to its normalhorizontal position.

The references described above are exemplary of those directed to smallanimal traps utilizing a tilting member which will discharge the animalinto a water bath. While effective, such traps are generallycharacterized by complex construction and the requirement to carefullybalance and counterbalance the tilting member. In order for the animalto be trapped, he must pass along the tilting member to the extent thathis body weight will cause the member to filt. Sometimes the slightestmovement of the tilting member will cause a wary animal to back off andavoid being trapped.

The trap of the present invention is extremely simple in construction,and, as will be described hereinafter, can be configured to be used witha preexisting vessel containing a water bath. The tilting platform ofthe trap to be described is free floating and does not require delicatebalancing and counterbalancing. The animal approaching the tiltingplatform of the present invention has already assumed a downwardlyattitude and the platform will give way from beneath the animalregardless of the animal's weight.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a trap for smallanimals such as rodents and the like. In a first embodiment, the trapcomprises a vessel having an open upper end. A removable foraminousliner is located in the vessel to assist in removal of the trappedanimal. If the trap is intended to kill the animal, the vessel may bepartially filled with water so that the animal is caused to drown. Thevessel is located in the ground with its open upper end extending aboveground level by an amount sufficient to enable a cover assembly to bemounted thereon.

The cover assembly supports a vertical tubular bait container extendingaxially of the vessel with its lower end closed and extending below thecover assembly and its upper end open, extending above the coverassembly and provided with a removable cap by which the bait containercan be filled. The side wall of the tubular bait container is providedwith a plurality of perforations at its lower end thereby exposing thebait therein.

The cover assembly for the vessel has a substantially vertical wallportion provided with at least one opening therein. Perferably, aplurality of openings are provided in the vertical wall portion so thatthe trap may be approached from various sides. Each opening leads to acurved conduit extending inwardly and downwardly thereof toward thelower end of the tubular bait container.

A support is attached to the tubular bait container and extendsvertically and axially of the vessel. A tiltable platform is mounted onthe lower end of the support at a level above the water in the vesseland below the lower end of the tubular bait container. The platform isuniversally tiltable in all directions under the weight of an animal andnormally assumes a substantially horizontal position.

In a second embodiment, a vessel is provied which again can be locatedin the ground, or simply can be rested upon the surface of the ground orother suitable support surface. In this embodiment a removable cover isprovided having at least one opening therein. The cover can be planar,if desired. A support is affixed to the cover and depends downwardlyinto the vessel, axially thereof. A universally tiltable platform ismounted at the lowermost end of the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trap of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the trap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional, elevational view taken along section line3--3 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the trap positioned in the ground.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the trap of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional elevational view of the trap of FIG. 4.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 through 3 like parts have been given like index numerals. Thetrap of the present invention comprises three basic parts: a vesselgenerally indicated at 1, a foraminous liner (see FIG. 3) for the vesselgenerally indicated at 2 and a cover assembly, generally indicated at 3.The vessel 1 may be of any appropriate type capable of being buried inthe ground. The vessel may be a concrete septic tank, a rectangular box,a barrel, a drum or the like. The vessel preferably should be capable ofholding water, as will be evident hereinafter. For purposes of anexemplary showing, the vessel 1 is illustrated as being a conventionalgarbage can of plastic or metallic construction.

The vessel 1 is shown in FIG. 3 as being buried in the ground 4 with itsopen upper end extending above ground level 4a by an amount sufficientto accommodate cover assembly 3. The vessel 1 may be buried directly inthe ground as shown in FIG. 3, or a hole may be prepared therefor andlined with concrete, metal or the like.

The trap of the present invention may be used simply to capture smallanimals. However, it may also be used to trap and kill small animals. Inthe latter instance, the vessel may be partially filled with water sothat the trapped animal will drown. A water bath is shown at 5 andconstitutes from about one-fourth to about one-third the volume ofvessel 1.

The purpose of liner 2 is to assist in the removal of the captured ordrowned animal. When vessel 1 is intended to contain water bath 5, liner2 is preferably foraminous so that, upon removal of cover assembly 3,the liner 2 can be lifted from vessel 1 with water bath 5 remaining inplace. Herein and in the claims, the term "foraminous" is used in itsbroadest sense and is intended to cover a sheet metal or plastic linerprovided with a plurality of perforations, an openwork net liner or awire mesh liner as shown in FIG. 3. The upper end of liner 2 may beprovided with easily grasped handle means (not shown) for convenience inremoval and installation.

The cover assembly may be molded of plastic or fabricated of metal asshown. Since vessel 1, in the embodiment illustrated is shown to be ofcircular cross section with a circular side wall slightly taperingupwardly and outwardly, the cover assembly is also shown to be ofcircular configuration. It will be understood that if vessel 1 had someother transverse cross sectional configuration, the cover assembly 3could readily be configured appropriately to fit thereon.

Cover assembly 3 comprises a horizontal portion 6 terminating at itsedge in a downwardly depending, vertical, annular wall 7. Adjacent thebottom edge of annular wall 7 there is an annular horizontal portion 8provided with a downwardly depending annular flange or skirt 9. As ismost clearly shown in FIG. 3, the annular horizontal portion 8 restsupon the upper edge of vessel 1 and the annular skirt 9 extendsdownwardly about the uppermost portion of vessel 1. Annular verticalwall 7 of cover assembly 3 is provided with at least one opening.Preferably, annular wall 7 is provided with a plurality of openingsevenly spaced thereabout. This renders the trap accessible from alldirections. While the number of openings does not constitute alimitation on the present invention, four openings evenly spaced aboutannular wall 7 has been found to be a convenient and sufficient number.Four such openings are illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 at 10 through13. An arcuate, tubular, open ended conduit 14 is affixed at one of itsends in opening 10 of sidewall 7. The conduit 14 extends radiallyinwardly and downwardly and serves as an entrance passage for the trapat opening 10. Openings 11, 12, 13 are similarly provided with identicalconduit or passage means 15, 16 and 17, respectively.

The horizontal portion 6 of cover assembly 3 has a central perforation18 formed therein. Extending through perforation 18 there is a tubularbait container 19. The tubular bait container is welded to horizontalportion 6 of cover assembly 3 as at 20. Tubular bait container 19 has aclosed lower end 21 which extends just below the inside ends of radialpassage conduits 14 through 17. The tubular bait container 19 has anopen upper end 22 provided with a cap 23. Cap 23 enables access to theinterior of tubular bait container 19 for the insertion of appropriatebait therein. The lower portion of the cylindrical wall of tubular baitcontainer 19 is provided with a plurality of perforations 24 exposingthe bait within container 19.

Tubular bait container 19 is provided with a support means for atiltable platform to be described hereinafter. The support means maytake a number of forms including a rod-like member welded or otherwiseaffixed to the bottom end 21 of tubular member 19. For purposes of anexemplary showing, the support is illustrated as comprising a rod-likeelement 25 extending axially through the tubular bait container 19 andextending axially of vessel 1. The rod 25 passes through a perforation26 in the bottom end 21 of tubular bait container 19 and a perforation27 in the tubular bait container cap 23. The upper end of rod 25 isthreaded as at 28 and the rod is held in place by a wing nut 29 or thelike. At its lower end, the rod is provided with a substantiallyspherical bulb 30.

A tiltable platform is shown at 31 in FIG. 3. The tiltable platformcomprises a disc-like member having a diameter slightly less than theinternal diameters of vessel 1 and liner 2. The disc-like tiltingplatform 31 has a central perforation 32 through which rod 25 extends.The perforation 32 is of greater diameter than rod 25, but of lesserdiameter than spherical bulb 30. The diameter of perforation 32 shouldbe such as to permit platform 31 to assume a tilted configuration at anangle at least about 45° to the horizontal as is shown in broken lines.Other modes of attachment of platform 31 to the lower end of rod 25 maybe employed, so long as they are universal in nature, permitting theplatform to tilt in any direction. In the embodiment shown, tighteningor loosening of wing nut 29 will adjust the height of tilting platform31 to the desired level above water bath 5 and with respect to the innerends of radially oriented passages 24 through 17.

The small animal trap of the present invention having been described,its operation may be set forth as follows. Vessel 1 is located in theground as shown in FIG. 3. The liner 2 is placed within vessel 1 and thewater bath (if used) is provided. The tubular bait container 19 isfilled with appropriate bait material and cap 23 is placed thereon. Thewing nut 29 is tightened to maintain cap 23 in place and toappropriately adjust the position of the tilting platform 31. The coverassembly 3 is then located on the upper edge of vessel 1 and the trap isready for operation.

A small animal to be trapped is attracted by the bait within the tubularbait container 19 and enters any one of openings 10 through 13 and itsrespective conduit or passage 14 through 17. As the animal approachesthe bait exposed by perforations 24 in the tubular bait container 19, itwill attempt to stand on tilting platform 31. Tilting platform 31 willgive way beneath the animal's weight discharging the animal into thebottom of the vessel and into water bath 5, if used. Once the animal hasbeen discharged by tilting platform 31, it cannot again gain access tothe inner end of any one of passages 14 through 17 because it will beprevented from so doing by tilting platform 31. Periodically, coverassembly 3 is removed and trapped animals are lifted from vessel 1 bymeans of liner 2. If the adjusted position of tilting platform 31 is ofsufficient length beneath the lower end 21 of tubular bait container 19,the bait container can be refilled without removal of cover assembly 3by simply lifting cap 23 upwardly. Otherwise, wing nut 29 may be turneda sufficient amount to enable this to be done.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention.While size does not constitute a limitation of the present invention,the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is particularly adapted for use as asmall trap for small animals such as mice or the like. The trap,generally indicated at 33, comprises a vessel 34 and a cover 35. Thevessel 34 may be of any suitable type such as a small bucket, can or thelike. For purposes of an exemplary showing, the vessel 34 is illustratedas being a plastic vessel of about 1 gallon capacity. In the exemplaryembodiment shown, the vessel 34 is open at its upper end which isprovided with a rolled peripheral flange 36. As in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 through 3, the vessel 34 may be located in the ground with justenough of the upper portion of the vessel being above ground toaccommodate cover 33. Alternatively, the vessel may simply be located onan appropriate solid support surface. While vessel 34 is shown as havinga circular cross section, a vessel could be used having other crosssectional configurations.

Cover 33 again could be made of any appropriate material. In theembodiment shown, it is molded of resilient plastic material, and has aplanar circular configuration, provided with a downwardly dependingannular flange or skirt 37. It will be understood that cover 33 will beappropriately configured to match the cross sectional configuration ofvessel 34. The annular skirt 37 may be provided with an internal flange38, adapted to engage the rolled flange 36 of vessel 34 when cover 33 islocated in place thereon. This gives the cover 33 a snap-fit engagementwith the open end of vessel 34.

The cover 33 has at least one opening in its horizontal, planar portion,so sized as to permit the passage of a small animal therethrough. Whilethe number of such openings does not constitute a limitation on thepresent invention, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown as havingtwo such openings at 39 and 40.

Cover 33 has a small central opening 41 adapted to receive the upper endof an elongated support 42 which depends downwardly from cover 33 andextends axially into vessel 34. While support 42 may constitute athreaded rod-like element (similar to rod-like element 25 of FIG. 3),provided with a substantially spherical bulb (similar to spherical bulb30 of FIG. 3), for purposes of an exemplary showing the support 42 ofFIGS. 4 and 5 is illustrated as being an elongated, threaded bolt. Thesupport or bolt 42 is affixed to cover 33 by means of nuts 43 and 44,located on either side of cover 33. By appropriate adjustment of nuts 43and 44, the length of support 42 extending into vessel 34 can beadjusted.

A tiltable platform is shown in FIG. 5 at 45. As in the embodiment ofFIG. 3, the tiltable platform 45 comprises a disc-like member having adiameter slightly less than the internal diameter of vessel 34. Platform45 has a central perforation 46 through which bolt 42 extends. Theperforation 46 is of greater diameter than the shank 42a of bolt 42, butof less diameter than the head 42b of bolt 42. Once again, the diameterof perforation 46 should be such as to permit the platform 45 to beuniversally tiltable, with a tilt angle of at least about 45° to thehorizontal. Other modes of attachment of platform 45 to the bottom endof support 42 can be used, so long as they are universal in nature,permitting the platform to tilt in any direction.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is similar to that ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3. In this instance, however, since nobait container such as container 19 of FIG. 3 is provided, appropriatebait is simply located on platform 45 or on the lower end of support 42near platform 45. The cover 33 is then mounted on vessel 34. An animal,attracted by the bait, will enter through one of perforations 39 and 40and will attempt to stand upon platform 45. The platform will give waybeneath the weight of the animal and the animal will be discharged intothe bottom of vessel 34.

If the trap is intended to kill as well as trap the small animal, vessel34 can be provided with a water bath (not shown) constituting from aboutone-fourth to about one-third the volume of vessel 34. It will beunderstood that vessel 34 could also be provided with a foraminous linersuch as liner 2 of FIG. 3.

Modification may be made in the invention without departing from thespirit of it.

What is claimed is:
 1. A trap for small animals such as rodents and thelike comprising a vessel having an open upper end and a removable coverassembly closing said open upper end of said vessel, said vessel beingadapted to be located in the ground with said open upper end thereofextending above ground level by an amount sufficient to receive saidcover assembly, a tubular bait container affixed to and extendingthrough said cover assembly said tubular bait container extendingvertically and axially of said vessel when said cover assembly ismounted thereon, said tubular bait container having a closed lower endbelow said cover assembly and an open upper end above said coverassembly, a removable cap for said upper open end of said baitcontainer, said bait container having a cylindrical side wall with aplurality of bait exposing perforations formed therein near the lowerend thereof, said cover assembly having a substantially vertical wallportion provided with at least one opening therein, a curved conduitextending inwardly and downwardly from said opening toward said lowerend of said bait container, a support attached to said bait containerand extending vertically downwardly thereof and axially of said vesseland a universally tiltable platform mounted on the lower end of saidsupport.
 2. The structure claimed in claim 1 including a removableforaminous liner for said vessel.
 3. The structure claimed in claim 1including a water bath within said vessel below said tiltable platform.4. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said vessel is of circulartransverse horizontal cross section, said cover assembly also being ofcircular configuration having an annular horizontal portion resting uponsaid upper open end of said vessel, said substantially vertical wallportion of said cover assembly being annular and having a plurality ofopenings formed therein and evenly spaced thereabout, each of saidopenings having a curved conduit connected thereto, said conduitsextending radially inwardly of said wall portion and downwardly towardsaid lower end of said bait container.
 5. The structure claimed in claim1 wherein said support comprises an elongated rod, said rod extendingaxially of said tubular bait container through perforations in saidclosed lower end thereof and said cap therefor, the upper end of saidrod extending through said perforation in said cap being threaded andprovided with an adjustment nut.
 6. The structure claimed in claim 2including a water bath within said vessel below said tiltable platform.7. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said openings in saidsubstantially vertical annular wall portion of said cover assembly arefour in number.
 8. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said supportcomprises an elongated rod, said rod extending axially of said tubularbait container through perforations in said closed lower end thereof andsaid cap therefor, the upper end of said rod extending through saidperforation in said cap being threaded and provided with an adjustmentnut, said tiltable platform comprising a disc-like element, the lowerend of said rod extending with clearance through a centrally locatedperforation in said tiltable platform and means on said lower end ofsaid rod below said platform to support said platform and to permituniversal tilting thereof.
 9. The structure claimed in claim 8 includinga removable foraminous liner for said vessel.
 10. The structure claimedin claim 9 including a water bath within said vessel below said tiltableplatform.
 11. A trap for small animals such as rodents and the likecomprising a vessel having an open upper end and a removable coverclosing said open upper end of said vessel, said cover having aperipheral downwardly depending skirt engaging said open upper end ofsaid vessel about its periphery, said cover having at least one openingtherein, a rigid one piece rod-like support attached to said cover andextending vertically downwardly thereof and axially of said vessel, auniversally tiltable platform, said platform having a centralperforation, said rod-like support extending through said platformperforation with clearance, said rod-like support having an enlargedlower end below said platform configured to normally support saidplatform in a horizontal position and to permit universal tilting ofsaid platform.
 12. The structure claimed in claim 11 including aremovable foraminous liner for said vessel.
 13. The structure claimed inclaim 11 including a water bath within said vessel below said tiltableplatform.
 14. The structure claimed in claim 11 including a centralperforation in said cover, said rod-like support comprising an elongatedthreaded bolt adjustably mounted in said perforation by a pair of nutslocated above and below said cover and in abutment therewith, said bolthaving a head at that end thereof extending into said vessel, saidplatform perforation having a diameter less than the diameter of saidbolt head, said platform normally being supported by said bolt head in ahorizontal position within said vessel.